Yes, Roma wines taste better because only Roma selects from the world's greatest wine reserves for your pleasure.
And now, Roma wines, R-O-M-A, Roma wines present...
Suspense.
Tonight, Roma wines bring you Mr. Glen Ford in End of the Road,
a suspense play produced, edited, and directed for Roma Wines by William Spear.
Suspense. Radio's outstanding theater of thrills is presented for your enjoyment by Roma Wines.
That's R-O-M-A. Roma Wines.
Those better tasting California wines enjoyed by more Americans than any other wine.
For friendly entertaining, for delightful dining.
Yes, right now, a glass full would be very pleasant,
as Roma Wines bring you Glen Ford in a remarkable tale of...
Suspense.
For an automobile salesman, I have expensive habits.
I mean dames. It had been dames, dames, dames as long as I could remember.
Ah, it's strictly murder. Also, it gets you definitely no place.
So this day I was, well, I was turning over a new leaf.
Nothing on my mind but business.
Pencil in my hand, a sheet of figures on the desk,
figuring out how to sell a million Excelsior 8s, make a billion dollars.
And someone tapped on the glass.
I didn't even look up, just the busy executive.
And of course again, now I looked up.
Am I disturbing you?
Was she disturbing me?
I got up in a trance and followed her across the showroom floor.
It seemed as though I'd never seen anyone walk like that before in all my life.
This is my husband, Mr. Ganlin. Mr. Evans, the sales manager.
How do you do, sir?
So she had a husband.
He was a little sourpuss runt with a limpy leg about twice her age,
dressed like a man.
The kind of doughy that you would buy Excelsior 8s by the dozens.
But I wasn't thinking about that now. I was thinking about her.
I was thinking that the best way to guarantee seeing her again
was to send them out that door in an Excelsior 8.
So I pasted on the big salesman smile, went to town.
Now, this is our customs line, Mr. Ganlin, distinctive in appearance.
You'll notice the three-tone color effect inside and out.
I'll post you the match, huh?
And the broad, graceful sweeping line.
The thing of beauty. What's under the hood?
That's a question that I've been waiting for.
Why the world-famous Excelsior motor, Mr. Ganlin.
Gan, please, I've never driven in an Excelsior.
Perhaps Mr. Evans would take us for a ride.
Oh, now look here, Sylvia. Gan, please.
All right. It won't take a minute.
Here. Try that rear seat, Mr. Ganlin.
Find it broad and luxurious.
Now, Mrs. Ganlin, you'd care to sit up here in front?
You can see what it'll do. Thank you.
Hey, you see how that handles, Mr. Ganlin?
It's like a baby carriage, huh?
Well, keep your eyes on the road.
I turned the corner on two wheels.
Explained about the minimum sway being on account of the stabilizers.
Well, I got a couple of grunts for that try.
In the mirror, I saw he'd closed his eyes.
So I turned to her.
I still didn't know if this deal was going to be too easy,
but one look at that look in those eyes,
and I began to have a rough idea.
What do they call you? Which they?
Your friends. Speed. How about you?
Sylvia, why the speed, Evans?
I like to get places. I like to go places.
Eh, it's the same thing.
Maybe you're right. Maybe we're both right.
Maybe. Speed. Maybe.
Maybe.
She'd asked Ford how to make that Excelsior turn somersaults.
As it was, I showed her some driving tricks
that'd make your hair stand on end.
She loved them. Every once in a while, her eyes met mine
and clung there just long enough.
We knew, both of us, what I was selling,
and it wasn't an Excelsior.
I can have the car ready for delivery.
First thing in the morning, Mr. Ganlin, what do you say?
Gan, please.
Oh, all right, Sylvia, all right.
Now if you'll just sign the order.
I want it now, and I pay cash.
That's fine, Mr. Ganlin. That's just fine.
I think you'll find the desk in my office the most convenient.
Is that your office there?
Yes, that's right, Mr. Ganlin.
I'll collect all the necessary papers
while you're making out the check.
All right, all right.
How did you like it?
Like what?
The car, for a start.
I love it.
You better drive in for a service check as soon as you can.
When?
Tomorrow?
Tomorrow.
You suppose you could manage to be alone?
Yes, I'll be alone.
She came in the next morning.
She was alone.
Well, from that day, we went places.
We went there fast.
But this was, well, it was different.
She was different, different from anything I'd ever known before.
And in less than two weeks, I knew I didn't care about husbands
or Excelsior rates or even a million dollars.
All I cared about was her.
And I was going to be a good husband.
I was going to be a good husband.
All I cared about was her.
And it was the same with her most of the time.
That was what was tearing me up.
The way it was other times.
Standoffish, scared.
I was screwy. I didn't get it.
Well, one day we were down at the beach, as usual lately.
We were arguing about it.
Oh, please, Speed, don't.
What's the matter with Reno?
We've got to do something about it some day, haven't we?
Yes, yes.
Well, that's what they got Reno for.
He'll come after me.
Speed, I want to run along the beach.
Come on.
Hey, it's 33.
I'm too old for this stuff.
Hey, wait a minute. Anyway, look, look.
Speed, you've got to learn to relax.
I lost my roller skates.
I'll get you another pair.
I don't need skates.
Yes, you do.
All right, Sylvia, look, listen, Sylvia,
cut out the horseplay and quit stalling.
I want a decision. One way or another now.
Oh, darling, now you're angry.
You want to leave him, but you won't.
Oh, but I will, darling.
Speed, you see, there's so many things.
They're all complicated and mixed up.
First, there's my father.
What about him?
Well, you see, my father and Ganon were
mining partners in a little town called Phoebe, Arizona.
And then there was a cave in and my father was killed.
Oh, he was such a wonderful man.
We were so terribly close.
It's tough, baby.
Sometimes it's almost as though we were alive.
I see him, Speed, in dreams every so often.
I hear him speak.
It was ten years ago.
What's all this got to do with you and Ganon?
Stop it! Stop touching me! Can't you just leave me alone?
Leave me alone!
Okay, okay, if that's what you want.
Oh, no. Speed, don't.
Look, look, baby, I don't know about you,
but I'm leaving town tonight.
I can't take this any longer.
I'm going back now, quit my job and draw my three bucks
out of the bank and pack a bag.
I'll be back tonight with you or without you.
Oh, no, Speed, you can't. You can't go without me.
Well, that's up to you, baby.
I'm afraid. I don't know.
Well, we'll worry about that later. What about it?
All right. All right, I'll go.
I was to meet her at the usual place at eight o'clock.
I was on time, but even before I got there,
I realized she'd never show up.
I waited an hour and then I crossed the street
to the apartment where they lived, the seventh floor, 707.
She must have been hanging around the door
because it opened almost at once.
She came out in the hall, closed it behind her.
She was scared to death. Speed, you've got to get away.
Right away. Not without you, baby.
No, listen, listen to me, Speed.
I lied to you this afternoon. No kidding.
I mean, about my father. He wasn't just killed in a cave.
He was murdered.
So you married Galin to kind of show your appreciation.
Yes, I mean...
You look, you don't make sense, baby. Come on, we're going inside.
No, Speed, no.
We're going to settle this once and for all now.
In the living room, Galin was lying on the couch
with his shoes off, his feet propped up.
In a chair opposite was a young punk in a tan overcoat
who looked like he took the wrong kind of nose drops
when he needed courage.
He let it be known fairly obvious that he had a gun in his pocket.
Galin didn't even get up.
Well, Mr. Evans, this is an unexpected pleasure.
I'm afraid it's no pleasure either way.
I've come to tell you that your wife is leaving you with me.
Oh, is she?
What about it, Sylvia?
You don't seem to have entirely convinced her, Mr. Evans.
Listen, I don't know exactly what goes on here.
But I do know that she's headed straight for a crack-up
and that you're at the bottom of it, so she's leaving tonight.
Go on, Sylvia, get your things.
All right.
Mr. Evans, I'm not sure you fully appreciate
the penalties of stealing a man's wife.
There's divorce courts to handle that,
besides other ways if you're big enough.
Well, since you've brought up the question of superior force.
All right, Zeke, take him.
Okay, put him up.
Hi, funny face.
Gunsles with guns you have, huh?
Sometimes they come in handy, Mr. Evans.
Come on, start walking.
Any particular direction?
Yeah, outside.
All right.
All right, you win, Mr. Ganlin.
Take him out and kick him down the stairs, Zeke.
Kick him.
The punk was plenty shaky,
and he had the gun jammed right in my back.
That's not smart if your guy knows a little judo.
I made a quick half turn and fired, but not soon enough.
I had broken his arm before he could fire again.
The gun scooted across the floor somewhere,
and I was thinking as lucky they soundproofed these fancy apartments.
Then it started going off again.
I whirled around to see Sylvia with a gun in her hand,
stalking Ganlin like a tigress.
He was cowering behind the furniture,
and she was moving around trying to get a clear shot at him.
It took me one good leap to get over there and knock her out cold.
There was a bowl of water, some flowers on the table.
I threw the flowers on the floor, threw the water on Sylvia.
She opened her eyes, looked around.
Oh, Speed, why did you do it?
Maybe when you get better at it, they're liable to call it murder.
MUSIC
For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you Glenn Ford in End of the Road,
Roma Wines presentation tonight in radio's outstanding theater thrills, Suspense.
MUSIC
Between the acts of Suspense, this is Ken Niles for Roma Wines.
Whenever you want dinner to be outstanding,
whenever the occasion calls for the magic touch that changes a meal
into gracious, satisfying dining,
enrich your table with a delicious Roma California wine.
With tender, juicy steak or oven-brown roast,
enjoy the tantalizing taste harmonies of red, robust Roma Burgundy.
Or bring out the exquisite hidden flavors in fish or fowl
with pale gold delicate Roma Sauternes.
And remember, all Roma wines taste better
because Roma begins with choicest grapes.
Then with unmatched skill and resources,
Roma guides these naturally finer grapes unhurriedly to tempting taste perfection.
Later, Roma places this luscious grape treasure with Roma wines of years before,
and finally Roma selects from the world's greatest wine reserves for your pleasure.
With your dinner tomorrow, enjoy better tasting Roma wines.
That's R-O-M-A, Roma, the greatest name in wine.
And now, Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood sound stage,
John Ford as Speed Evans, with Kathy Lewis as Sylvia Ganlin in End of the Road,
a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.
After the gunplay, I thought it would be easy.
But when I tried to get her down to the car, she clawed like a wildcat.
I had to clip her again.
It was a battle all the way across town
till we got to barreling along Highway 99.
She knew she'd break her neck if she tried to jump.
And all of a sudden she...
She just went to sleep.
I looked over at her sleeping there in the corner,
rolled up like a kitten and as innocent as a baby.
And I knew I was for it if it killed me.
I'd just have to do the best I could.
We'd passed Bakersfield,
and I was headed up over the Tehachapi Mountains before she woke up.
It was morning.
Oh. Oh.
Hello, darling.
Feeling any better, baby?
Oh, yes.
I had such a wonderful dream.
I was a little girl again.
And I was with my father,
and he was rowing across a lake.
And then...
Then what?
Speed.
I lied to you about Ganlin.
He didn't kill my father.
I was wicked to say that, wasn't I?
Oh, you're just a little mixed up, that's all.
Speed. Yeah?
Where are we going?
We're going to your hometown, baby. Phoebe, Arizona.
Oh. You like the idea?
I suppose so. Why?
Look, baby, I'm no psychiatrist,
but something happened back there when you were a kid.
Something to do with the death of your father.
It's had you on the merry-go-round ever since.
So much so that about nine hours ago you tried to kill a man.
I said I was sorry about that, Speed.
Sure, sure, but if you and I are going to make a go at this,
I think we ought to do something more besides just saying we feel sorry, don't you?
You make it sound as though you thought I was going to go around killing people for the rest of my life.
All I say is that you're not...
Well, you're not going to be very happy until we know the facts about this thing,
whatever they are, until you've faced the facts,
and from then on we can forget it.
Speed. Yeah?
I'm terribly hungry, aren't you?
Yeah, I...
I could do with a little something.
Look, there's a place up ahead.
Oh, okay.
Bus just pulled in.
Yeah, it's one of the regular stops here.
Speed, kiss me.
How's that?
Oh, that's wonderful.
All right, let's go, huh?
I owed a lot of people.
Ah, those big buses that hold a lot of people, baby.
Help! Help! I'm being kidnapped!
Come here.
Help me! Help!
It's all right. It's all right. She's my wife.
Hey, what's going on here?
I'm not. I'm not. I've never seen him before in my life.
I'm being kidnapped.
He hit her!
Hey, that's no way to treat even your wife, mister.
All right, if you must know, she's crazy.
She's my wife, but she's hopelessly insane.
But I don't care!
About five minutes later, she snapped out of it.
You'd think nothing at all had happened,
but I wasn't taking any more chances.
I took to the side roads wherever I could,
figuring the cops would be on my tail any minute,
so we didn't cross the state line until after midnight.
That was next morning when I kicked it out of gear at Phoebe, Arizona.
There was only one hotel we registered,
the Joining Room.
All the time, I was watching her like a hawk.
I didn't need to.
Now that we were there, she...
I don't know, she seemed glad.
Now we'd been in our rooms about five minutes when the phone rang.
Hello.
Mr. Evans?
Yeah?
Just a moment, Mr. Evans.
Mr. Evans, this is San Francisco, operator 23.
We've got a long-distance call for you.
San Francisco?
Yes, sir. We've been trying to reach you all night.
Shall I put your party on now?
All right, go ahead.
Hello. Evans?
Yeah?
This is Ganlon.
You must have a private eye on your payroll, too.
I know you're an intelligent man, Evans,
whatever else you may be.
I knew where you'd go, but I want to tell you something.
You're getting in deep water,
deeper than you know anything about.
Deep while drowned, huh? All right, maybe I will.
But I'm still wading in.
I'm coming down there, Evans.
In the meantime, keep quiet and keep her quiet.
And keep your nose out of things.
What's that supposed to be? A threat?
I'm not threatening you, I'm telling you.
For your own good.
It was Ganlon, wasn't it?
Yeah, yeah, he called to give us his blessing.
He's coming down, too, isn't he?
Maybe.
I'm glad, Speed. You just can't know how glad I am.
Yeah, that's gonna be real cozy, just the three of us.
You've been cruel to me, Speed.
Who, me?
I've forgiven you, though, you know that.
Well, sure, baby.
I just didn't understand at first, but I understand now.
Why you brought me here, I mean.
You're going to find proof that Gan killed my father.
I'll work on that.
I can tell you exactly how it happened.
You said yesterday you were lying.
You try to confuse me, Speed. Do you want to know or don't you?
Sure, let's have it.
Well, my father and Gan were tunneling a new shaft inside of the mountain.
They were working alone that day.
They'd set a dynamite charge inside the shaft with wires out to the ignition box.
The box worked with a plunger, but when my father pushed it down,
the dynamite didn't go off.
He went back inside to find the trouble.
While he was in there, Gan pushed down the plunger again.
My father was blown to bits.
Just like that, huh?
Don't you believe me?
Hmm.
Like I say, I'll work on it.
They'll hang him, won't they?
Hang who?
Ganlin, they'll hang him when you find proof.
If he's guilty, they'll hang him.
You'll prove it, darling.
Promise me you will so they can arrest him when he arrives.
You'll do it for your baby, I know.
Kiss me, darling.
How's that?
Oh, that's wonderful.
That's all I care about.
That and seeing Ganlin hanged.
She went to sleep then, just as peaceful as you please,
dreaming of Ganlin with a rope around his neck.
Well, I found the thing they call the City Hall.
I asked to see records on her old man's death.
Well, they hemmed in a hot sum, and then it came out
that half the town was burned down a few years back.
The records went up with it.
They finally suggested I see an old timer named Konski
who had been her father's mind-former
at one time or another.
I did. He was already waiting for me.
He seemed to know what I was after.
He was all primed with the answers.
Sure I know, Sylvia.
Sweetest, prettiest little kid I ever see all my life.
And of course you knew her father.
Sure I knew.
I guess Sylvia must have been pretty fond of him.
Sure, she was crazy about him.
Well, wasn't she?
Maybe. But if she was, she was the only one in this town
wasn't glad to see him die.
Look, you don't have to be cagey with me.
I'm trying to help Sylvia.
All right. You know what this best thing you can do?
What?
Get out of town before you make plenty trouble.
That was that.
The next stop was the office of the weekly paper
owned, published, printed and peddled by one guy,
a guy named McLean.
He seemed to know all about my business too,
had the files all laid out for me.
Why don't you lay off it, Evans?
It's ten years old, dead and buried.
Mind if I look at your files?
Sure, sure. Go ahead. You can see what it says.
Mind disaster, premature explosion, accidental death.
Any chance it wasn't accidental?
What do you mean?
Any chance it gallanted it?
Not a chance.
You seem pretty sure.
You ever notice that gippy leg of his?
Yeah.
Well, that's how he got it.
He was in the mine when it happened.
I was getting no place fast, only a suspicion
and not a very comfortable one.
I hadn't the faintest idea where to go from here.
And I thought of the doctor.
There had to be a doctor sign a death certificate.
Well, I found out who he was, dug him up
and he looked like the worst bed of the bunch.
He was half wacky from the effects of age
and a misspent life, nothing left but his dignity.
And the collection of photographs that he insisted on talking about
until I wanted to smack him.
Yes, it was my hobby before my eyes went back on me,
but those you see on the wall are only a few.
Ah, here, here.
Take a look at some of these.
Who are all you people covering up for, Doc?
I beg your pardon?
You heard me.
Young man, you realize that what you've just said
constitutes the most serious slur on my professional reputation.
Oh, nuts.
Look, I'm trying to help a girl that I'm in love with.
Can't anybody understand that?
Take this one, for instance.
Notice the contrasts, the light and shadow.
I don't suppose you understand the meaning
of the term traumatic experience.
No, I thought not.
The psychic structure of the personality
is a very delicate mechanism.
For instance, in the case of Sylvia.
Now, take her to a competent man in the field, Mr. Evans.
I no longer handle such cases.
That's not what I came to you for, and you know it.
I'm afraid I can't help you.
Retired some time ago, you see.
Now, look at some of these.
They're older, of course,
but there's still some very good ones among them.
Look, Doc, I don't want to look at pictures.
All I want...
Oh, we found one you like, eh?
I knew you'd...
It has a date on it. July 14, 1935.
That mean anything to you?
Is that the stalagmite encrustation?
If so, it's...
I don't know, it's just some rocks
and a hole in the mountain to me,
but that date is the date that Sylvia's father was killed.
Give it to me, give it to me.
No, no, you don't.
I'm afraid you're torn to dust.
Give it back to me, I said.
Yeah, but the part I got is still enough
to show who killed him.
I started back for the hotel,
but I didn't feel so good.
I didn't feel good at all.
I asked at the desk if Gannan had arrived,
but he hadn't,
so I went on up to Sylvia's room.
She was sitting at the dressing table,
making up her face.
She looked up at me in the mirror.
You know,
I can tell by your eyes, you know.
Yes, baby, I know.
Then they'll hang him, won't they?
Gannan?
No, baby, he's in the clear.
But he isn't!
He can't be!
He murdered my father, I know he did!
You're lying to me, Speed.
Take it easy, baby.
It's gonna be all right.
Just let's get it over with,
and then we can forget it, huh?
Get what over with?
You're acting so funny, darling.
Take a look at this picture.
Hmm?
Oh, well, that's me, isn't it?
When I was a little girl.
I'm awfully far away,
but I'd still know it's me.
With this smoke.
Don't you remember?
Please, Speed, my head's hurting.
Don't...
Try to remember.
You're tormenting me.
You're trying to hurt me.
That smoke is the explosion, isn't it?
I don't know. I don't know!
You pushed the plunger.
I don't know.
Remember while your father was inside the shaft.
I don't know.
Remember?
Yes!
Yes, I killed him!
All right.
All right, baby, that's all there is to it.
You can forget.
I hated him.
It's all I live for.
It's all I ever dreamed of.
See his face bloody and battered.
See his body mangled and dirty.
I hated him.
I hate you!
I hate all men!
If I could kill every man in the world!
Where did you get that gun, baby?
Out of your overcoat.
Yeah, better put it down.
I tried to kill Ganlin because he knew.
Now you know.
Put it down.
It's too late, Speed.
Goodbye, darling.
Listen, it's all over now.
You were only a kid.
I know how he treated you.
The whole town covered up for you.
They're still covering.
Goodbye.
When the door flew open, I ducked.
And then the shots came.
When I looked around, Ganlin was lying on the open door.
The gun still in his hand.
He walked right into it.
He must have got in one shot, though.
That was enough.
She was still breathing when I got to her.
But that was about all.
Oh.
It's...
It's all right now.
Isn't it, darling?
Sure, sure, baby.
Everything's gonna be all right.
Kiss me.
Yeah.
How's that?
Oh, that's wonderful.
But I wasn't so lucky this time, was I?
Not...not too lucky.
I didn't miss.
No, baby.
You didn't miss.
Well, any time you want to buy an Excelsior A,
just come on in and see old Speed Evans.
No, I won't tell you my troubles.
Dames, that's my trouble.
It's been dames, dames, dames as long as I can remember.
Ah, it's too bad, though.
We'd have probably had a couple of kids by now.
Suspense.
Presented by Roma Wines.
R-O-M-A. Roma.
America's favorite wines.
This is Ken Niles,
returning to our Suspense Microphone
with the brilliant star of tonight's play, Glen Ford.
Glen, you did a magnificent job.
Believe me, I want a recording of your performance
from my own personal library of suspense records.
Well, thanks, Ken.
You're a record fan, too, huh?
Well, Mrs. Ford and I can't resist a brisk disc.
A brisk disc?
Yeah, you know, a torrid wax, a hot platter.
Oh, now I get you.
Say, speaking of platters, Glen,
isn't Mrs. F likely to serve you a nice sizzling platter
garnished with a thick, juicy steak some night soon?
Oh, she's better, Ken.
Well, good, because I have a little gift for you
that'll make any steak taste better.
Oh, suspense me no further, Ken.
What's the secret?
Your gift, Glen, is a basket of Roma California wines
presented by Roma, America's greatest vintner.
In that basket is a bottle of red, robust Roma Burgundy,
the perfect taste companion for tender steaks,
abrasive broiled chops, or any red meat.
Better tasting Roma Burgundy brings out
all the natural hidden flavors in hearty foods,
adds pleasure to every bite.
Roma Burgundy, huh?
Oh, I'll remember that, Ken.
Remember, too, that all Roma wines taste better
because Roma starts with choicest grapes,
guides them unhurriedly to tempting taste perfection
with skill and resources unmatched in America.
Then Roma places this luscious grape treasure
with Roma wines of years before to await selection
from the world's greatest wine reserves for your pleasure.
That's why more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine.
Well, I can't think of a better endorsement.
Thank you, and good night.
Glen Ford appeared through the courtesy of Columbia Pictures
and is soon to be seen starring in the Columbia Picture frame.
Tonight's suspense play was adapted by Irving Moore
and Robert Richards from a story by Irving Moore.
Next Thursday, same time, you will hear Agnes Moorhead
as star of Suspense.
Produced and directed by William Spear
for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California.
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.